Thermoplastic compound of proteids and amins.



UNITED srn rns BYRON B. GOLDSMITH, OF NEW YORK, N.- Y.

THERMOPLASTIC COMPOIJ'NID OF PROTEIDS AND AMINS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 18,1909.

Application filed October 7, 1907. Serial No. 396,192.

To all whom it may concern:-

Be it known that I, BYRON B. GOLDSMITH, a citizen of'the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Thermoplastic Compounds of Proteids and Amins, of which the following is a specification.

vThis invention has relation to treatment of albuminoids or proteids with amido compounds or amins, whereby a thermoplastic composition of matter is produced.

In my U. S. Patent Number 840,93 1, dated January 8th, 1907, I havedescribed a process whereby a thermoplastic compound may be made from casein or its derivatives, as a convenient and chea substitute for celluloid, rubber and the li e; and I made it clear in said patent that the term thermoplastic was meant to describe those masses which, while reasonably hard at ordinary temperatures, are rendered soft by heat, so as to permit the uniting of separate masses, and the molding of any mass'to any desired shape.

My present invention is based upon the discovery that the results obtained by the generalmethod described in said patent may e obtained by treatment of any of the animal or vegetable albuminoids or proteids, their derivatives and compounds, with any of that class of substances known as amins or amido compounds. These compounds, in

other words, act as converting agents in the sense of those Words as used in my said articles of many kinds, and supplying u 01 patent.

Among the albuminoid bodies which unite with the amins to form a thermoplastic mass may bementioned the proteids of blood and egg,'the gelatoids such as collagen, isinglass etc.) casein, luten and other vegetable albuminoids and eratin, as well as the combina- 1110118, derivatlves and compounds of these substances. For the sake of brevity I have used the term albuminoid hereimto cover these and other similar proteid substances.

Shortly stated, my invention involves the modification of the properties of (albuminoids (using the word as above defined) by uniting them with amins or amido com- .pounds, one or more at once, preferably under conditions of heat and pressure, for the production of a thermoplastic composition of matter, useful in the manufacture of molded a cheap andsuperior substitute for ce rubber etc.-

Among the converting agents of the general class claimed herein which I have found useful are naphthylamin, benzidin, anilin, toluidin, Xylidin and diphenylamin.- All of these not already liquid will melt on heating and my invention covers the use of all amins having this property. Those amins which on the contrary cannot be melted by heat, but generally decompose, are not suitable for .my purpose and are not included in. my

claims. The mode of action of these converting ag'entsis not perfectly clear. In some cases it is probably due to partial solutionof the albuminoid when heated, but I do not confine myself to any theory of action; nor is it essential to my invention whether or not there is a chemical combination between the albuminoid and the amido compound.

In many cases the derivatives of proteids or their compounds, or combinations of two or more proteids, when united to the amins, give results superior to those derived from use of a single unchanged proteid. Moreover it is often unnecessary that a given proteid should be isolated or refined for the purposes of my process, but inmany cases'the material containing it can be used" and my claims are intended to cover the-use of such materials except where otherwise expressly stated; p f

' In the manufacture of my present composition, the albuminoids undergo the same treatment as is described in my said patent in connection with the converting agents there named; that is to say they may be united with the amido com ound on or bemethod may be used whereby these substances are brought into intimate contact. Instead of using the amins in their natural state, they may be first dissolved in alcohol, or other suitable liquid'which is afterward driven ofi by heat. One practicable proportion is thefollowing': .Take a quantity of curd which would weigh four pounds if dry and sprinkle the same with one pound of any one of the amins above specifically enumerated, dissolved in alcohol. This is well mixed, preferably on suitably heated rolls,

and, when the mixture is com leted, the

mass is removed and is softwhile hot but hardens on cooling. Scraps ofaiarious subtween suitable heated. ro Any other stances may be mixed in with the masses thus in ormed in considerable quantities. Among these are celluloid scraps, finely divide'd' albuminoids, bits 'of horn, rubber, resins, gums and coloring matter. Oompoundin substances or fillers can also be incorporatec without departing from this invention.

What I claim is- O 1. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in intimately mixing an albuminoid with an amido compound, substantially as described. 2. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in adding an amido compound to an albuminoid and then heating and pressing the combined ingredients, substantially as described.-

3. The process of making a thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in ad (1- ing an amido compound to an albuminoid and subjecting the-combined ingredients to heat and pressure substantially as described.

4. The process of making a'thermoplastic composition of matter which consists in adding naphthylamin to an albuminoid and subjecting the combined ingredients'to heat and I pressure, substantially as described. 5. A thermoplastic composition of matter 25 consisting of an albuminoid united to an amido compound, substantially as described.

6. A com osition of matter consisting of an albuminold united to an amido compound, substantiallyas described. 30

7. A composition of matter consisting of casein or its equivalent united to an amido compound, substantially as described.

8. A composition of matter consisting of an albuminoid united to naphthylamin, sub- 35 stantially as described.

9. A""composition of matter consistin of casein or its equivalent united to napht yl- 'amin, substantlally as described.

BYRON B. GOLDSMITH.

Witnesses:

' H. S. MAOKAYE M. A. BUTLER. 

